How to Make Your Home Cozy with Thrifted Vintage Finds

Last Updated on January 15, 2026 by Stacy Averette

Each week, I make it a point to drop into my local thrift stores and browse for treasures. Sometimes I find pieces that speak to me, and sometimes I come out empty-handed. I always decorate by heart — meaning I buy what I love if it’s within my price point, even if I don’t know exactly where I’ll put it or how I’ll use it right away.

In this post, I’m sharing a few of my recent finds and how I’ve used them in my home. I hope you’ll be inspired to buy what you love and use it to make your house a home.

Vintage Landscapes

Eric and I went to the Vintage Pickin’ Event in September and had a wonderful time. I didn’t buy anything (I wasn’t feeling well, and the heat didn’t help), so we headed home and made a few stops at a few of our favorite places.

I came home with this:

I paid $1 each for the tulle/lace skirts, and here’s how I used them:

I also paid $1 for the landscape picture.

I took the picture out of the frame. It was in pretty bad shape from water damage.

My idea was to use a mat to cover the damaged areas and trim the excess from the picture. I purchased a 16×20 white mat at Hobby Lobby and used a 40% coupon, so I only spent an additional $3.00.  I cleaned layers of dust and grime off the glass and frame. The wooden frame had some damage, but I don’t mind. Here’s the result:

I love how the updated vintage landscape, some old books I found recently, and an old cowbell look on top of my refrigerator.

Thrifty Home Decor

Thrift stores always have these silver trays, and I prefer them tarnished.  I used this one to hold my soaps in the kitchen. I don’t have a dishwasher, so I love using a great-smelling dish soap when I wash dishes. The countertop spray is part of the set. I love using it on my countertop, kitchen table, and DIY chalk-painted coffee table. Love the way it makes the house smell.

I found this cute art at the thrift store recently and added it to the piece I moved into the laundry room.

I plan to repaint this cabinet again and finish styling it. My laundry room also serves as a butler’s pantry of sorts for dishes and serving pieces, so this cabinet is a great storage piece.

If you follow me on Instagram you probably saw my fall mantel. This isn’t a great photo. The lighting is really weird.

I went to a yard sale last week and picked up this pretty lace, velvet ribbon, and string all for $0.50. I brought it home and decided to add it to the mantel.

Layering home decor adds a whimsical touch and helps a space feel cozy and collected, rather than decorated.

I love making our house a home — a place that tells our story and reflects the things we love. As always, I hope this post — my words and pictures — will inspire you to make your house a home.

It’s not the house I love but the life that’s lived in it.